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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

SYNNIBARR!!!

It's a wonderful time to be alive.

As I announced to my readership last year, Raven c. s. McCracken has been working on a new edition of The World of Synnibarr ; however, I had no idea it would be ready so soon. McCracken has launched a Kickstarter project for the new Synnibarr (which apparently carries the subtitle of “Invicta”). I am so excited by this development, I have placed a Synnibarr Kickstarter widget in the side column (temporarily) above the “Where's Dave?” appeal.

The project home page says, “The eagerly anticipated -and simplified- redesign, is in the final beta-testing phase a full year ahead of schedule.” McCracken estimates publication in September 2013.

The goal is $55,000 and just about $3,000 has been pledged so far. That means McCracken has three weeks to get $52,000. I love me some midnight sunstone bazooka, but I'm not optimistic about reaching this goal. Maybe McCracken should have concentrated on one book at a time; start small and let the enthusiasm snowball.

McCracken's no quitter. So if this project isn't successful, I know it won't be the end of the 'new' Synnibarr. However, I can't image how severe the setback will be without this funding. All we can do is hope, “For we have the hearts and imaginations, but not the power or frontiers...”

At first I wondered why he needed $55,000, when the minimum cost to produce an RPG is zero. Then I saw that this new system favours role-playing over roll-playing. So I think the money isn't to make the game, but to send it back in time to 1990.

According to rpg.net Rifts was 1990, and Synnibar 1991. So the claim on the Kickstarter page that this was the first fantasy/science fiction game is false, even if you take a very narrow definition of what they mean.